Hot Honey Burgers

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of BUBBA burger. All opinions are 100% mine.

overhead of BUBBA burger packaging with hot honey burger

There might not be anything more American than a hamburger. And while there are endless topping combinations, buns and sauces, it all comes back to one thing: the burger itself.

Hot Honey Burgers have quickly become a family favorite using this season’s hottest new ingredient: spicy honey. A juicy BUBBA burger topped with chipotle mayo, pepper jack cheese, fresh butter lettuce, tangy pepper spread, sweet and spicy honey and all held together with a poppy seed onion bun. It’s the type of burger you have to commit to after you’ve picked it up because you’ll be a little messy while eating. No judgment here; you can lick your fingers.

angle of burger with pepper spread, spicy mayo and lettuce

Hot Honey Burgers

We eat burgers a lot in this house and BUBBA burgers are our go-to. We can make them on the grill or in a skillet, even the air fryer, and regardless of cooking method, are ready in just about 10 minutes. Which is about the time it takes for me to grab all the toppings out of the fridge.

BUBBA burgers only have one ingredient: 100% choice beef chuck and for this beef cookbook author, that is super important. They are high in protein and quality and super convenient.

honey drizzling onto a burger

What You’ll Need

We made these on Original BUBBA burgers, but the toppings complement any of the varieties: turkey, plant-based (veggie) or Angus and original beef. They can be found in the meat or frozen food section of your local grocery store. And after you have the burgers, grab the toppings.

  • Pepper Jack Cheese– Use any cheese you like, sharp cheddar or a habanero laced cheese is also ideal.
  • Hot Honey- If you haven’t tried it yet, you don’t know what you are missing! Spiked and infused with crushed red peppers and a hint of vinegar, this condiment is becoming super popular for good reason. Make your own or grab a bottle at the store for convenience. Also use this to make a hot honey chex mix!
  • Chipotle Mayo– Also a versatile sauce, chipotle mayo can be made quickly from scratch or grab a bottle at the store.
  • Bibb Lettuce– Butter lettuce, iceberg or romaine- whatever leafy green you choose, the lush crunch balances the creamy and spicy flavors of this burger.
  • Sandwich Spread Peppers- made from roasted, diced cherry peppers, a little goes a long way!
  • Onion Poppy Seed Bun– This sweet bread complements the spicy flavors but is hearty enough to hold it all together.
overhead of building a hot honey burger

How to Cook a BUBBA Burger

You have options when making your BUBBA burgers. For ease on this rainy night, I used a cast-iron skillet inside, but there are other options.

  1. Place the frozen burger directly on a preheated grill (350°F on indirect heat) or skillet (medium heat).
  2. Wait for the juices to rise to the top without moving the burger around and do NOT press on it with a spatula, approximately 4 to 6 minutes. Browning is a good thing, it helps to develop natural flavors!
BUBBA burger in a skillet
  1. Flip the BUBBA burger and cook for another 4 to 6 minutes or until your desired doneness. For the last 2 minutes of cooking, place the cheese over each burger and cover with a lid to create steam, which will melt the cheese.
  2. Remove the burger and allow to rest for 5 minutes while you grab the rest of the toppings.
  3. Assemble by placing the lettuce on the bottom, then the BUBBA burger and top with chipotle mayo, spicy peppers and drizzle the honey directly onto the top bun.
  4. Enjoy!

Leftovers

What leftovers? Burgers are a hard thing to reheat after being assembled, so I highly encourage you to finish the meal, but should you have leftovers, store the burgers separately and off the bun.

Reheat in a skillet or a quick trip to the microwave and then assemble the burger from scratch just like the original instructions.

hot honey burger cut in half

More Gourmet Burger Recipes

Caprese Burger Recipe - an easy sun dried tomato pesto, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese with your choice of caramelized onions and balsamic reduction. This is the best burger ever! www.savoryexperiments.com

Caprese Burgers

Caprese Burgers are smothered with a red pesto, fresh mozzarella and basil all on a flame-grilled burger. The best gourmet burger out there! 
See The Recipe!
straight on shot of two smash burgers on wooden board

Smashburger Recipe

A smash burger is a thin, buttery burger with crunchy lacey edges on a buttered and somewhat limp bun. DELICIOUSNESS!
See The Recipe!
Red Wine Shiitake Burger- earthy and sweet, these toppings make the perfect artisan hamburger at home! www.savoryexperiments.com

Mushroom Burger Recipe

Red Wine Shiitake Burger- earthy and sweet, these toppings make the perfect artisan hamburger at home! 
See The Recipe!

Click Here To Learn All About BUBBA

box of BUBBA burgers with fixings for hot honey burgers

head on image of a sliced hot honey burger

Hot Honey Burgers

4.67 from 6 votes
A juicy BUBBA burger topped with chipotle mayo, pepper jack cheese, fresh butter lettuce, tangy pepper spread, sweet and spicy honey and all held together with a poppy seed onion bun
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 Original BUBBA burgers
  • 4 slices pepper jack cheese
  • 4 leaves bibb or butter lettuce
  • 4 tablespoons hot honey
  • 4 tablespoons chipotle mayonnaise
  • 4 tablespoons hot pepper spread
  • 4 onion poppy seed buns

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add 4 frozen burgers. Cook for 4-6 minutes or until you start to see juices bubble on the top. Flip and continue to cook for 2-4 minutes on the other side.
  • Place a slice of cheese over each burger and cover with a lid to create steam and melt the cheese. Continue to cook for 1 minute.
  • Remove from the skillet and rest while you assemble the burger toppings.
  • Equally divide the lettuce, hot honey, chipotle mayonnaise and hot pepper spread between each bun. Top with cooked burger and bun top and enjoy.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 588 kcal, Carbohydrates: 39 g, Protein: 26 g, Fat: 36 g, Saturated Fat: 13 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 84 mg, Sodium: 512 mg, Potassium: 387 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 21 g, Vitamin A: 171 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 229 mg, Iron: 4 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 588
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: BUBBA burgers, gourmet burgers, hot honey burgers
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.67 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

Join The Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    Burgers are one of my favorite foods and I’m ALWAYS willing to try a new variety. That hot honey looks absolutely delicious, I can’t wait to make this for myself! Thanks for the recipe!

  2. 5 stars
    Wow! This burger sounds amazing! I’ve never had hot honey before but it sounds so good on this burger. I need to find some and try this out.

  3. 5 stars
    Well now I want to seek out some Bubba burgers AND try your specific toppings. I love a little spice with my burgers, also love sweet with salty flavors. Yum!

  4. 5 stars
    Oooh, so many incredible flavors paired with these burgers! I love how they come together in about 15 minutes too. So good!